how do these odd bikes work

[hamster]

IIRC while the idea didn't take off in MTB, it was appreciated in ultra-long distance road events like RAAM.

 

[dirttorpedo]

My friend has a Softride branded mountain bike and rode it happily for many years. I recall it was one of those early innovative suspension systems where rather than suspending the bike they suspended the rider. Of course you needed a suspension stem to make the whole thing make sense. I think the parallelogram style Allsop Frankenstem made the most sense.

If you follow Bike Snob NYC he has been experimenting with one recently.

 

[Retro_Roy]

I have a Rocky Mountain beam bike. Rocky also had a road version called the Road Wedge.

 

[grahame]

I saw Tom Ritchey break one on the Slickrock Trail in Moab in October 1993. We were riding with Joe Breeze, Otis Guy and a few others.

 

[dirttorpedo]

IIRC while the idea didn't take off in MTB, it was appreciated in ultra-long distance road events like RAAM.

I remember seeing them used in Triathlons. 650C wheels and softride.

 

[Hotwheels.]

I saw Tom Ritchey break one on the Slickrock Trail in Moab in October 1993. We were riding with Joe Breeze, Otis Guy and a few others.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Are the stems branded as Softride?

 

[Proto2000]

Here is another maker version that is a little more similar to a standard frame bike. The stem and seat mast use the same shock with great damping. This is a 91 JP Morgen made in San Francisco and I believe JP designed the Soft Ride stems for them. Only a handful of these were built.

 

[KermitGKona88]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/142...96710647285649/?sale_post_id=3196710647285649

 

[Imlach]

I think you just pedal them mate